What they actually teach at Berklee about progressions

Hey music makers!

There's this approach they teach at Berklee that might completely change how you think about chord progressions.

Instead of memorizing wild sequences like Ami7/E - Ami/G - D9 - F - Eb - G/D chord by chord, Barry Nettles broke down all harmonic movement into just four simple categories.

Once you understand these patterns, you stop collecting progressions and start understanding the movement that makes them work.

And the result is enhanced learning and more creative freedom

It's called root motion theory, and it's been hiding in plain sight.

Quick Update:

After an intense week of preparation, Harmony GPS Module 1 is finally live!

This 30-day systematic approach teaches you exactly this kind of thinking - stop memorizing chord sequences, start understanding movement patterns. The frameworks that turn scattered knowledge into creative freedom 👉🏾 Learn More Today

Real Song. Real Progressions

💿 "Let It Be" by The Beatles

Key: C major

Progression: C - G - Am - F - C - G - F - C

Root Motion: C→G (down 5th), G→A (up 2nd), A→F (down 3rd), F→C (up 4th)

Why it works: Paul McCartney intuitively used three of the four strongest root movements in this one progression. That's why it feels so inevitable - the bass line creates this perfect cycle of tension and release.

The name of the game is pattern recognition. Instead of thinking "C-G/B-Am-whatever," you start hearing "stepwise down, then a leap." Suddenly you're not collecting chord sequences anymore - you're recognizing patterns that work everywhere.

Let's explore this further.

🧠 Term of the Week: Root Motion Categories

In music, root motion refers to the intervals created between the roots of consecutive chords in a progression.

It's a fundamental concept that describes how harmonies move from one to another, driving the musical narrative and influencing the overall feel of a song

Fun fact! Every chord progression you've ever loved can be broken down into just four types of bass movement.

Here are Barry Nettles' four categories of root motion, ranked by harmonic strength:

1. Down by 5ths (strongest) - Think ii-V-I, the backbone of jazz 2. Down by 4ths - The reverse of 5ths, equally powerful

3. Stepwise motion (up/down) - Smooth, linear movement like walking bass 4. By thirds (up/down) - Creates interesting harmonic color and surprise

This approach works particularly well for most Western popular and jazz progressions, where functional harmony principles guide the music.

Key insight: Root motion is the bass line movement - what your ear actually tracks.

Inversions are your tool for controlling the bass line - smooth stepwise motion or powerful leaps.

For example: C to F (strong up 4th) vs. C/E to F (smooth up 2nd to F).

Great songwriters use inversions to create specific emotions. Smooth stepwise bass lines vs. powerful root position leaps.

The inversion choice controls whether your progression feels gentle or bold.

Once you recognize these patterns, you stop being limited by what you've memorized. You start controlling the impact of every chord change.

🎯 Challenge for the Week

Your Mission: Pick a song you know well and become a root motion detective.

Step 1: Write out just the chord roots (ignore inversions for now) Step 2: Identify the movement between each root using the four categories:

• Down by 5ths or up by 4ths (strongest)

• Down by 4ths or up by 5ths

• Stepwise motion (up or down)

• By thirds (up or down)

Step 3: Notice which movements create the strongest "pull" forward

Bonus: Try playing just the bass line. Feel how some movements create more momentum than others?

Start with simple songs - Beatles tracks are perfect for this detective work.

I spent years collecting progressions like Pokemon cards. Didn't help me write better music until I understood the movement underneath.

Next week: the practice sequence that changes everything. Bass line analysis, strategic inversions, and how to take any progression and transform it with new chord colors while keeping the same harmonic skeleton.

✉️ That's a wrap

I hope you enjoyed this break down.

See you next week.

Melvin ✌🏾